by Mark McDermott Small accessory dwelling units are now legal to build on lots alongside single-family homes in parts of Manhattan Beach. The City Council, with some reluctance, last week adopted an ordinance allowing “accessory dwelling units” (ADUs) anywhere east of Blanche and Ardmore avenues. The action was required by a new California law intended […]…

by Ryan McDonald Hermosa Beach will institute new restrictions on tobacco sales next year, requiring an additional permit for stores wanting to sell tobacco and limiting the availability of flavored tobacco and e-cigarettes. Local Offers Discount for non-profits on 1st Aid/CPR training!by Foss Occupational Safety Services - 18 hours ago The City Council approved […]…

by David Mendez Though the flock of scooters disappeared as rapidly as they showed up, an invasion of Birds sent the city scrambling to react to the “pop-up” deployment of over 200 electric vehicles beginning on Friday. The deployment appears to have ended by Monday morning. The scooters are not strictly illegal within Redondo Beach […]…

By Randy Angel Mira Costa’s boys soccer team entered the week undefeated after winning three games at the Santa Barbara High School Showcase. The Mustangs, ranked No. 4 in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 with a 7-0 record, defeated Channel Islands 3-0, Ventura 4-1 and San Clemente (No. 6, Div. 1) in a close match 2-0. […]…

by Randy Angel Redondo Beach’s Kirsten Leetch capped off a productive year of running, winning a National Championship in the USATF Club Cross Country Nationals on Saturday. Her first place finish paced her team, The Janes Elite Racing, to a 1-2-3 finish and team title in 23 degree weather at Plantes Ferry Sports Complex in […]…

Running: The annual winter Manhattan Beach Glowtide 5K will take place Saturday, Dec. 22 beginning at 5:30 p.m. The race begins and ends under the Holiday lights of the Manhattan Beach Pier. Participants receive glow necklaces and Beachy T-shirts. Unique wooly hats are awarded to the top 5 finishers. Following the 5K will be the […]…

Even when the tide dropped and the wind shifted onshore, the SB Boardriders/Jack's Showdown contest on Dec. 8 in El Porto still provided showcase opportunities for the nearly 200 contestants, as seen in these afternoon photos by Steve Gaffney.…

In this episode of “On the Couch”, we get off the couch and chase down our guest, Morgan Sliff. We knew exactly where to find her, in the water surfing. We pulled her out to find out more about her surfing streak, growing up in Hermosa, salsa dancing at the Lighthouse and more. This video […]…

It’s the time of year when people pull out their worn copies of Dickens, and if they’re paying attention they’ll notice Charles was quite a sensualist when it came to food and drink. When he talks about a bad meal you’re disgusted, and when he describes a good meal you get hungry. This is the […]…

I don’t often get takeout food, partly because I enjoy experiencing restaurants and mostly because I like my meals to be as fresh as possible. The most popular takeout options — burgers, pizza, and Chinese food, all wilt on the drive home. If there’s anything worse than Szechuan crispy pork that isn’t crispy any more, […]…

Years ago I worked with someone who spent much time thinking about numbers. He was a tour organizer rather than an accountant, and he believed that combinations of digits had a psychological connection. He priced his excursions based on this theory, which drove management crazy because profits were always slightly off from their projections. The […]…

by Neely Swanson “Mary Poppins Returns” hits all the notes, notes that were all hit before. Mary Poppins may be practically perfect in every way (especially as played by Emily Blunt) but the film is practically dreadful in every way. With a story written by a committee of David Magee, Rob Marshall, and John DeLuca, […]…

By the light of the moon we can see to the bottom of the ocean “Stones to Stains: The Drawings of Victor Hugo” at the Hammer Museum by Bondo Wyszpolski When we think of Victor Hugo we think of “Les Misérables” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” largely because of the film and theatrical treatments […]…

Thursday, December 13 From Torrance to Bayreuth The annual fall Opera Workshop takes place at 8 p.m. in the Campus Theatre at El Camino College, Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. It features scenes from popular operas and musicals sung by top-performing students, and is directed by Kevin Blickfeldt. Tickets, $10. Call (800) 832-ARTS or […]…

South Bay Boardriders host Big Wave Challenge

Alex Gray at Burnout on March 2, 2014. The wave earned Gray that year’s South Bay Boardriders Club Big Wave Challenge award. Photo by Bryce Lowe-White

by Tom Horton

“You now how it is when the horizon goes dark,” Derek Levy said in recalling the 25-foot wave he caught at the Redondo Breakwall on Jan. 16 of this year. “The horizon went dark. I saw a wave start to feather at the bend in the Breakwall. I started paddling to get past it. It was a close out and I didn’t have any intention of taking off.

“But I heard Randy Meistrell and Michael Luhrsen screaming, ‘Go.’ I turned and burned. I made the drop and got halfway back up the face. Then it closed out and I straightened out for the beach But I still got pounded,” Levy recalled.

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The club established the Big Wave Challenge in 2011 to recognize a select group of surfers who chase big waves. Waves must be at least “Triple Overhead” and caught between Indicator in Palos Verdes and Dockweiler State Beach in El Segundo. The contest period runs from Nov. 1 through March 31. The ride must be documented by a photo or video.

As part of the Big Wave Challenge, the club also presents awards for the Wipeout of the Year, Grom Hardest Charger Award and the Howard Eddy Memorial Award, presented to an individual who unselfishly gives back to the surfing community.

Derek Levy at the Redondo Beach Breakwall Jan. 16 of this year. The wave earned Levy this year’s South Bay Boardriders Club Big Wave Challenge award. Photo by Charlie Scholz